However, some home inspection companies may require a GED, insurance, a clean background check, etc. Are you ready to lay the foundation for your own home inspection business? We've created a comprehensive guide to help you consolidate your new career as a California home inspector. Follow the steps below to learn more about home inspection courses (and why they are needed), how to take the National Home Inspector Exam (NHIE), how to establish contacts in your area, what are the essential requirements for home inspection insurance and where to go from here. If you want to connect with other California home inspectors, check out the California Association of Real Estate Inspectors.
There are also several national organizations you can join, such as the American Society of Home Inspectors (ASHI) and the International Association of Certified Home Inspectors (InterNACHI). Familiarize yourself with the requirements of your state's home inspectors to prepare for training. The requirements for obtaining home inspector certification can vary considerably from state to state. For example, Florida and North Carolina require more than 100 hours of training and the passing of a state exam, while states such as Illinois, Virginia and Connecticut require hands-on field training supervised by a certified inspector before taking the exam to obtain a license.
Other states, such as California, have no certification requirements for home inspectors. Knowing your state's requirements will help you chart the fastest and most cost-effective path to certification. ICA's comprehensive online training allows aspiring home inspectors to learn at their own pace from anywhere with an Internet connection. While most students complete the course within 3 to 4 weeks, some have completed it in as little as 10 days, depending on the individual's learning style and availability.
Training materials are available 24 hours a day, allowing students to study on a schedule that doesn't interfere with existing jobs or other life commitments. We'll prepare you for the home inspection exam in any state, as well as for the 200-question exam by national home inspectors, which are largely based on the standards of practice and the code of ethics of the American Society of Home Inspectors (ASHI). These are also the foundation of the best way to become a home inspector. Our course comes with an online study guide containing more than 700 practical questions. When you complete the pre-ICA license training, you will be fully prepared to take and pass both the NHIE exam and the exam in your home state.
To maximize your chances of success, you may want to become certified and work in a state that requires a home inspection before selling it. The ATI online master's course teaches you everything you need to know to become a certified home inspector in California. The California Coalition of Home Inspectors (CCHI) has long disagreed with the California Association of Realtors (CAR) over the drafting of this section. While there is no formal state-sponsored license for inspectors in California, there have been numerous laws affecting inspectors over the past two decades.
While California has no insurance requirements for home inspectors, it's a good idea to protect your business with liability insurance. Passing this exam is a prerequisite for membership in both the American Society of Home Inspectors (ASHI) and the California Association of Real Estate Inspectors (CREIA). Unlike opening a fast food franchise, where you'll generate income from day one, to become a home inspector you'll have to aggressively promote yourself with lenders, agents and real estate brokers before money starts to arrive. Each course provides you with the information, practice, and enforcement strategies you need to succeed as a California home inspector.
The California Business and Professional Code for Home Inspectors provides information on inspecting homes, irrigation systems, yellow corrugated stainless steel pipes, and carrying out repairs. Get your California home inspector certification or gain more knowledge with continuing education through ATI training courses. Internachi certified home inspectors must complete twenty-four hours of continuing education each year to renew your certification.
